George Herbert(1593–1633)

Jordan (I)

W h o says that f i c t i o n s o n l y a n d f a l s e hair

B e c o m e a verse Is t h e r e in truth no beauty

Is all g o o d s t r u c t u r e in a w i n d i n g stair

M a y n o l i n e s pass, e x c e p t t h e y d o their d u t y

N o t to a true, b u t p a i n t e d chair6

Is it no verse, e x c e p t e n c h a n t e d groves

A n d s u d d e n arbors s h a d o w c o a r s e - s p u n lines7

Must purling 0 streams refresh a lover's lovesswirling

Must all be veiled while he that reads, divines,

C a t c h i n g t h e s e n s e at t w o r e m o v e s ?

S h e p h e r d s are h o n e s t p e o p l e ; let t h e m sing:

Riddle w h o list, for m e , a n d pull for prime:8likes

I e n v y no m a n ' s n i g h t i n g a l e or spring;

N o r let t h e m p u n i s h m e w i t h loss o f r h y m e ,

Who plainly say, My God, My King.